Subscribers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are set to benefit from expanded coverage as Parliament has approved the inclusion of free primary health care and dialysis treatment under the scheme.
This comes after the House approved a new formula for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which captures both services as part of conditions catered for by the scheme. To support this expansion, Parliament has also approved a budgetary allocation of GHS10 billion for the NHIA—an increase of GHS4 billion compared to last year’s allocation.
The boost in funding follows the removal of the capping policy, which previously restricted the full disbursement of statutory funds to the Authority.
Speaking to the media after the approval, Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh explained that the move is aimed at improving accessibility and equity in Ghana’s health care system. He stated that the newly established MahamaCares Fund will complement the NHIS in covering dialysis treatment across the country.
The Minister assured that the new arrangement will ensure fair and non-discriminatory access to dialysis, in contrast to what he described as inequitable practices under the previous administration.
The inclusion of dialysis and primary health care under NHIS coverage is expected to offer significant relief to many Ghanaians who face high out-of-pocket medical expenses, particularly those suffering from chronic kidney conditions.
